Severe weather warning for motorists

Motorists are being warned to be prepared for severe weather in the North West tonight and over the weekend.

Locations in the region potentially affected by gusts over the weekend include the M61 J9/M65 J1 interchange and M65 J3-J4 Withnell and Blackburn interchange.

The warning has been isued by Highways England has put out an amber weather alert for motorways and major A roads in the North, with gusts of up to 70mph forecast from tonight.

Drivers are being urged to check the weather and driving conditions before setting out on journeys this weekend.

High winds are forecast from 9pm tonight until 5am on Sunday.

The south westerly winds are expected to strengthen with widespread gusts in excess of 60mph, especially in Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire.

Several roadworks that had been due to take place this weekend have also been postponed.

They include the overnight closure of the M62 between junction 19 at Heywood and junction 20 at Oldham to remove an overhead gantry as part of the smart motorway scheme, along with the start of work on a major project to repair bridges and install a new concrete barrier on the M6 between junction 19 at Knutsford and junction 20 at Lymm Services.

In West Yorkshire, the planned removal of roadworks on the M1 smart motorway scheme between junction 39 at Denby Dale and junction 41 at Morley has also been postponed.

The new dates for all postponed schemes will be publicised in advance of work taking place.

Phil Stockford, emergency planning manager at Highways England, said: “We issue severe weather alerts when there is a significant risk to vehicles using motorways and major A roads. The amber status means drivers should be prepared before setting out on journeys.

“There’s a particular risk to lorries and other vulnerable vehicles, such as caravans and motorbikes, so we’re asking drivers to slow down and to avoid using exposed sections of motorways and other routes if possible.

“We’re advising drivers to plan their journeys before they set out, checking the forecast and road conditions, as well as to leave extra time for their journeys and to delay their journey if the weather becomes severe.”

There will also be possible 70mph gusts of wind around exposed parts of the A595, A590, A66 trans-Pennine route, M6 at Shap, A69, A1 at Morpeth and A19 at Newcastle upon Tyne.

The winds are forecast to ease only slightly for a time between 8am and 5pm on Saturday but then increase again up to 60mph or more.

The winds will then increase to gusts of 60mph or more before quickly easing after 5am on Sunday morning.

Highways England is working closely with the Met Office to monitor weather conditions and maintain safe roads and reliable journeys.

Extra patrols of Highways England traffic officers and recovery vehicles are being deployed across the weekend to help respond to any incidents.